Ness’ Outpost

My auto insurance policy came up for renewal in March of 2008. I did not receive any of my documentation in the mail concerning my policy renewal - but since it was not returned to sender The Personal assumed I had received it. I only discovered that I was driving with out updated insurance documents when I renewed my license plate sticker on April 30, 2008. I doddled a bit, but eventually did call The Personal and requested a new set of documents be mailed to me. These documents never arrived — and interestingly enough The Personal representitive that I spoke to does not have a record of this communication when I called to argue my payment of the penalty fee.

Since the documents didn’t arrive and I was now aware that I was diving with old insurance documents I started talking to friends and family about their insurance. I discovered I was being grossly over charged compared to the market for my 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier. I knew people with 2006 vehicles paying less insurance with the same deductibles as myself! What is even worse is that I was receiving a discount because of my OSPE membership — the premium could have been even higher. I shopped around and found a far better deal than The Personal could offer me and wanted to switch. I cancelled my policy and was charged an exorbitant fee to do so.

My final payment which is to be made on June 16th - I’m sure mostly is composed of the penalty fee for cancelling the contract - is approximately $280. My monthly payments were approximately $175.

I was a good customer, always paid my bill on time and never had an NSF payment failure to The Personal. I started my auto insurance plan in late 2005 with them. Only in March of 2007 when I had to change my address and get rental insurance did my auto premium jump greatly. This was explained to me because I live in Mississauga.

The only leverage I have left in this situation is to write about my account and discourage others from doing business with The Personal because of the way I was treated.

• I was not notified of my renewal
• I continued to pay my bill on time every month
• When I discovered my renewal had passed and found a better deal The Personal was not willing to admit their inability to provide me with the information I needed to make a timely decision.
• I did not ask for a refund. I only wish not to pay the penalty fee for contract termination as I did not knowingly enter a new contract. The insurance business has me here though as policies automatically renew if no action is taken.
• I will make my money back by switching in 3 months. But this is still my hard earned money I won’t get back.

My only advice to others in a similar situation is to do things in a different order. My proactive order was what has caused problems for myself. Had I recorded proper documentation of my call to request my renewal package I would be in a far better bargaining position. When you call the first time be sure to notify the agent that you did not receive any renewal documentation.

Please avoid doing business with The Personal. I never had to make a claim but I hope they are excellent at customer service during that time of need because they over charged me while I lived in Mississauga and were forced me to the letter of my contract.

My cancelled policy number was: K2568236 Feel free to quote that and provide them with the URL to this page.

Once I move from my apartment and can also cancel my rental insurance I will be one customer The Personal will never see again.